coat buttons

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Coat Buttons
• Tridax Daisy
• coat-buttons

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Amellus pedunculatus
• Balbisia canescens
• Balbisia divaricata
• Balbisia elongata
• Balbisia pedunculata
• Chrysanthemum procumbens
• Tridax procumbens var. canescens
• Tridax procumbens var. ovatifolia

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it follows the order Asterales and is a member of the Asteraceae family. Its specific taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Tridax.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad geographical distribution across several distinct tropical regions. Within the Macaronesian islands, it can be found specifically in Cape Verde. Its presence extends significantly into West Tropical Africa, where it is documented in Benin. Furthermore, the species thrives in the landscapes of Burkina and Guinea. Finally, its range includes the territory of the Ivory Coast.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

Tridax procumbens thrives across a broad altitudinal spectrum, ranging from sea level (0 m AMSL) up to elevations of approximately 2000 m AMSL. Its ecological niche is characterized by high adaptability to disturbed environments, where it functions as a common weed of cultivation and frequently colonizes waste ground. As a resilient invader of bare soil, the species demonstrates a competitive growth strategy by forming dense patches and continuous mats, allowing it to dominate open spaces and stabilize disturbed terrain.

Elevational range max:

2000 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

a weed of cultivation, also on waste ground, invader of bare soil, forms patches and mats

Genetics

The genetics of Tridax procumbens are characterized by a specific chromosomal architecture that underpins its reproductive success and adaptability in diverse environments. A fundamental aspect of its cytogenetic profile is its chromosome number, which is recorded as 36. This numerical value plays a critical role in the plant's meiotic processes and its ability to maintain genetic stability across varying ecological niches. The stability of this diploid number facilitates efficient inheritance patterns, allowing the species to propagate effectively through both sexual and asexual mechanisms. Understanding this chromosomal configuration is essential for studying the genomic variations, polyploidy potential, and the evolutionary lineage of this medicinal species.

Chromosome number :

36

Life history

The life history of Tridax procumbens is characterized by its classification as a perennial plant, though its life cycle can exhibit variable durations depending on environmental conditions and habitat stability. Functioning as a therophyte, the species completes its life cycle through the production of seeds that allow it to persist in disturbed or seasonal environments, often retreating to a seed bank during unfavorable periods. This life form strategy enables the plant to rapidly colonize open spaces and thrive in various ecological niches, ensuring its survival through efficient reproductive cycles.

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Tridax procumbens is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and forb. It is a terrestrial, independent plant that does not function as an epiphyte or a parasite. The plant is self-supporting rather than a climber, exhibiting an ascending shoot orientation. In terms of stature, it is a relatively low-growing species with a maximum plant height of 0.5 m, a minimum height of 0 m, and an average plant height of approximately 0.25 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

0.5 m

Plant height mean:

0.250266700666667 m

Plant height min:

0 m

Shoot orientation :

ascending

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Tridax procumbens is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency. The plant's vegetative structure features non-succulent leaves, lacking specialized water-storage tissues. Morphologically, the leaves exhibit significant variability in size, with lengths ranging from a minimum of 2 cm to a maximum of 7 cm, while the width of the foliage varies between 1 cm and 4 cm. Furthermore, the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer, relying instead on available soil nutrients rather than symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacteria to fulfill its nitrogen requirements.

Leaf length max:

7 cm

Leaf length min:

2 cm

Leaf width max:

4 cm

Leaf width min:

1 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Succulence :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Tridax procumbens is characterized by a biotic pollination syndrome, primarily driven by insects, which facilitates the fertilization process. The plant produces white flowers that typically begin their flowering period in April and conclude around June, though the timing can be variable across different months. Following successful pollination, the plant develops fruit in the form of an achene. These fruits are indehiscent and typically measure a mean length of 0.25 cm, with a range spanning from a minimum of 0.2 cm to a maximum of 0.25 cm. Each fruit is prolific, containing a seed count ranging from 11 to 100 seeds. The individual seeds are quite small, possessing a mean mass of 0.000688 g, with values fluctuating between a minimum of 0.00058 g and a maximum of 0.00079 g. For the propagation of the species, Tridax procumbens utilizes an anemochorous dispersal syndrome, relying on wind to transport its lightweight seeds to new locations.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Flower colour :

white

Flowering time :

Apr

Flowering time :

Jun

Fruit length max:

0.25 cm

Fruit length min:

0.2 cm

Fruit type :

achene

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Seed mass max:

0.00079 g

Seed mass mean:

0.000688 g

Seed mass min:

0.00058 g

Seeds_per_fruit :

11-100

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Tridax procumbens has 2 reported plant parts identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, flower.

Leaf

1. Oxidative medicine and cellular longevity
2. F1000Research
3. Malaria journal
4. Indian journal of physiology and pharmacology
5. Saudi journal of biological sciences

Flower

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Chemicals

Tridax procumbens has 50 reported phytochemicals identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoids, Tannins, Lupeol, Oxylipin, Terpenoids.

Flavonoids

1. F1000Research
2. Journal of advanced pharmaceutical technology & research
3. Current research in microbial sciences
4. Foods (Basel, Switzerland)
5. Biological research

Tannins

1. F1000Research
2. Saudi journal of biological sciences
3. Current research in microbial sciences

Lupeol

1. Natural product letters
2. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie

Oxylipin

1. Asian Pacific journal of tropical medicine
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Terpenoids

1. Journal of advanced pharmaceutical technology & research
2. Current research in microbial sciences

luteolin

1. Dr. Duke
2. Structural chemistry

polyphenols

1. F1000Research
2. Saudi journal of biological sciences

(3S)-16,17-didehydrofalcarinol

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

(S,Z)-Heptadeca-1,9-dien-4,6-diyn-3-ol

1. Current microbiology

Amines

1. Oxidative medicine and cellular longevity

Activities

Tridax procumbens has 235 reported activities identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antibacterial, Antimicrobial, Antioxidant, Anticancer, Antidiabetic.

Antibacterial

1. Dr. Duke
2. Current microbiology
3. Applied biochemistry and biotechnology
4. Saudi journal of biological sciences
5. Foods (Basel, Switzerland)

Antimicrobial

1. Oxidative medicine and cellular longevity
2. Journal of the mechanical behavior of biomedical materials
3. Current research in microbial sciences
4. Frontiers in microbiology

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Saudi journal of biological sciences
3. Foods (Basel, Switzerland)
4. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie

Anticancer

1. Dr. Duke
2. Oxidative medicine and cellular longevity
3. Current research in microbial sciences

Antidiabetic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie

Antiherpetic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Applied biochemistry and biotechnology

Cytotoxic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Saudi journal of biological sciences

Hypoglycemic

1. Dr. Duke
2. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

11B-HSD-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

5-Lipoxygenase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Conditions

Tridax procumbens has 44 reported investigations on conditions identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include Leishmania mexicana, Staphylococcus aureus, oxidative stress, wounds, Bacillus cereus.

Leishmania mexicana

1. Asian Pacific journal of tropical medicine
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Staphylococcus aureus

1. Journal of the mechanical behavior of biomedical materials
2. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Oxidative stress

1. Foods (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Wounds

1. Ancient science of life
2. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie

Bacillus cereus

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

E. coli

1. Frontiers in microbiology

Escherichia coli

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Hsv-1

1. Applied biochemistry and biotechnology

Japanese encephalitis

1. The Indian journal of medical research

Mycobacterium smegmatis

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Preparations

Tridax procumbens has 24 reported preparations identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include extracts, methanol extract, Aqueous and 70% ethanolic extracts of the leaves, CQDs-3, EAEs from leaves.

Extracts

1. The Journal of parasitology
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Methanol extract

1. IET nanobiotechnology
2. Saudi journal of biological sciences

Aqueous and 70% ethanolic extracts of the leaves

1. F1000Research

Cqds-3

1. Heliyon

Eaes from leaves

1. Malaria journal

Ethanolic extract of tridax procumbens

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Juice from the leaves

1. Indian journal of physiology and pharmacology

Methanolic extracts

1. BMC complementary medicine and therapies

Tridax procumbens extract

1. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie

Tridax procumbens extracts (tpe)

1. Biological research